About CASE WESTErn mock trial

What is Mock Trial?

Mock Trial is exactly what it sounds like. Students from over 600 teams across the country get together and act like lawyers and witnesses in a trial. Every year, the American Mock Trial Association (AMTA) puts forth a civil or criminal case complete with statutes, case law, witnesses, and evidence. Students, with the help of their coaches, create a case theory and develop a plan for explaining that theory in a competition setting.

Every fall, teams gather at invitational tournaments, where they test their case theories and witness lineups, teach new students what it's like to compete, and learn from other programs. In the spring, AMTA hosts three tournaments: Regionals, the Opening Round Championship Series (ORCS), and the National Championship Tournament. Every team in the country attends Regionals, but only the top teams from each region advance to ORCS. The 48 best teams in the country advance to the National Championship Tournament, where they compete for the National Champion title. 

Case mock trial

Our goal for this season is, as always, to advance to the National Championship Tournament. 

Case Western Reserve University Mock Trial was founded in 2001. Since our founding, we have frequently advanced to ORCS. In 2011 and 2021 we advanced to the National Championship Tournament.  

One of the things that makes Case Mock Trial unique is our strong bond. Since we spend a lot of time practicing together during the week and then weekends together in hotels and competing, we form close-knit relationships that remain throughout college and after graduation.

Because of that close bond, our alumni remain very involved. Several alumni have coached the program throughout the years, while others return frequently to judge at the Spartan Throwdown or to give advice. They're also a great resource; our alumni have gone on to become lawyers, doctors, engineers, accountants, professors, and more.